No abstract

A novel method was applied for the preparation of Ni–Sn alloy catalysts that were utilized for chemoselective hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonyl compounds, producing unsaturated alcohols almost exclusively. The formation of the Ni–Sn alloy may have played a key role in the enhancement of the chemoselectivity.

The synergistic actions between an inexpensive bulk Ni–Sn(1.5) alloy, hydrogen gas, and an ethanol/H2O solvent mixture selectively assisted the one pot conversion of C5-furan compounds to 1,4-pentanediol with outstanding yields up to 92%.

Efficient hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) into γ-valerolactone (GVL) in water using supported Ni–Sn(1.4)/AlOH consisting of Ni3Sn2 alloy species was achieved with high selectivity towards GVL and the catalyst could be reused without any significant loss of activity and selectivity.